While the Dallas Mavericks are 16-8 and in fourth place in the Western Conference, that doesn't mean that they won't look to get better ahead of the February trade deadline.
Dallas has made multiple blockbuster trades at the trade deadline in the past, including deals for P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford last season, and this season could bring more of the same.
The Mavericks are reportedly looking to move Maxi Kleber at this year's trade deadline, and one name has continuously been brought up when discussing players that the Mavs could trade for over the last week or so.
The Mavs were linked to Jimmy Butler last week, and it was reported on Tuesday that Dallas is one of three destinations that he'd like to be traded to. Butler wants to win right now, and with the direction that Dallas is heading in right now, it would be a great place for him to do that.
Jimmy Butler to Dallas trade is impractical because of finances
While the on-court fit could be amazing for Butler in Dallas considering that he would become the Mavs' third star next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the finances of making a deal like this work would be nearly impossible, especially with the new CBA.
Dallas would have to make the outgoing salary nearly match the returning salary of $48.8 million that Butler is set to make this year. Butler would immediately become the highest-paid player on the Mavs, and in order to make this deal work, they would have to sacrifice a tremendous amount of depth.
Dallas' depth is what has made them elite this season, and coughing up multiple role players for an aging Jimmy Butler who is also likely going to become a free agent this summer is a major risk. He'll also be seeking a big contract this summer, and the Mavs may not want to give him a long-term deal to become one of Doncic's sidekicks of the future.
The logistics and finances of making such a deal work are extremely complex, and that must be remembered when speculating about the possibility of Butler becoming a Maverick. Nico Harrison has built something special with this year's current roster, and while Jason Kidd has proven that he is elite at managing star players, it may not be in their best interest to bring in Butler.
On the flip side though, Butler would become Dallas' defensive stopper who they'll need by the time the playoffs roll around, and he knows how to win at the highest level. Butler has earned the nickname of "Playoff Jimmy" due to his ability to take his game to the next level once the postseason hits, and that would be a major addition for this Mavericks team who needed more firepower to get over the hump and win the NBA Finals last season against the Boston Celtics.
Butler has averaged 24.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from downtown with the Heat. He is usually unstoppable once April, May, and June hit, and his fiery persona and passion to win in the playoffs are priceless.
Having someone like Butler in that series would have been major, and he has plenty of Finals experience himself. He has made the Finals twice since joining the Heat in 2019 and was even named the Eastern Conference Finals MVP in 2023.
Regardless of the potential greatness of Butler's fit in Dallas, the avenue to get this deal done is extremely difficult. The Mavs sending out that much salary and losing several role players would not be easy, and there is always the potential of Butler not fitting in if they were to make the deal.
Nonetheless, the Mavs have made Butler's shortlist, and time will tell if Dallas feels the same way about him.